AROUND THE N.H.L.; The Toll From Turin: A Damage Assessment

By Jason Diamos

Published: March 5, 2006

Lost in the excitement of the Olympic hockey tournament in Turin, Italy, was the toll it took on N.H.L. teams, the Ottawa Senators in particular.

Dominik Hasek, Ottawa's 41-year-old goaltender, sustained a serious injury to his abductor muscle, just below the groin, in the Czech Republic's first game of the tournament. He remains out indefinitely.

Hasek announced his retirement after winning the 2002 Stanley Cup with Detroit, then returned for an injury-plagued season with the Red Wings in 2003-4.

He was enjoying a renaissance this season. Entering Friday's games, Hasek was tied for second in the N.H.L. in goals against average (2.09) and in shutouts (5), and was second in save percentage (.925).

Ottawa General Manager John Muckler said Friday in a telephone interview: ''I feel the Olympic experience is very important for the N.H.L., but I don't think it's all positive. I understand why we go to the Olympics, and I guess I'm for that. But I don't like when my goaltender gets hurt. And I don't like the lack of communication.''

Muckler was referring to the difficulty he and the Senators had in contacting Hasek during the Olympics and determining the extent of the injury.

''There was no communication from the Czech Republic team,'' Muckler said. ''You can't get near a player if he's injured. There should be a liaison-type of person'' between the league and the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Muckler was not alone in expressing frustration about the players' isolation in the Olympic Village. Vancouver General Manager Dave Nonis was reportedly upset with the Finnish federation's unwillingness to pass along medical updates on defenseman Sami Salo, who sustained a serious shoulder injury in a quarterfinal victory over the United States.

Vancouver's Mattias Ohlund injured a rib during the Olympics, and Philadelphia's Simon Gagn?bruised knee) and the Devils' Patrick Elias (ribs) have also missed time with injuries after the Olympic break. Los Angeles lost two players, Pavol Demitra (eye) and Alexander Frolov (shoulder).

The Rangers' Jaromir Jagr, who had two goals and an assist in Thursday's 6-1 thrashing of the Flyers in Philadelphia, left the game midway through the third period after aggravating a groin injury he sustained in the bronze-medal game in Turin.

Hasek's injury could prove to be the most costly. Muckler's gamble in signing him before the lockout was paying off this season.

With a 40-14-5 record and 85 points through yesterday's games, the Senators are second in the Eastern Conference and a favorite to advance to the Stanley Cup finals. If Hasek is healthy, that is. He is considered a contender for his seventh Vezina Trophy, given to the most valuable goaltender. That would tie him with Jacques Plante for the most Vezinas in league history.

''It's going to be O.K.,'' Muckler said of Hasek's injury. ''He's going to be able to play. But we're not going to put a date on it. We want Dom to come back when he's able to play.''

Photo: Dominik Hasek after being injured in the Olympics. He is out indefinitely. (Photo by Eric Risberg/Associated Press)